The Press-Republican

Leonard DuBrey

April 06, 1942 - January 31, 2019

Leonard Daniel DuBrey was called back to his creator on Jan. 31, 2019, surrounded by his loving wife and four devoted daughters. He was a quiet man, but his heart beat louder than the hoof falls of a galloping horse. He would do anything for anyone on a moment's notice. He wanted everybody to love him and everybody did.
Lenny was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on April 6, 1942. He grew up in Chazy Lake, N.Y., where his parents were hard working farmers. His family had a deep French-Canadian heritage and the radio was often tuned in to a French-speaking station. He learned at a young age to milk cows, mow hay, and tend to the vegetables. Even after he moved to the suburbs of Holliston, Mass., and later Wrentham, Mass., he always had a garden. He loved tomatoes.
Right out of high school, Lenny served in the U.S. Navy. He was on the seas at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He then worked at the New England Telephone Company until the Baby Bells started merging, at which time he thought it would be more rewarding to work on his own. He started Phonewire Communications and soon hired Mike Boudreau, who would become the son he never had.
Lenny was an avid candlepin bowler and participated in league play until very recently. He was also a star pitcher on his slow-pitch softball team for many years. He loved the Red Sox and was happy to see that the curse was finally lifted. He could fix any engine, no matter the problem, and he loved riding his motorcycle in the summer and his snowmobile in the winter. He was a true gear head.
Lenny is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Gorman) DuBrey, his daughters and their families: Colette and Michael Jurnak of Bedford, N.H., and their children Megan and Logan; Nanette and Kelly Niemann of Peru, N.Y., and their children James Ahern, Adam Ahern, his wife Kenna, and their sons Hunter and Brantley, and Kolt Niemann; Danielle Fresn and her companion, Kevin Neill of Morrisonville, N.Y., and Danielle's son Connor; and Nicole DuBrey and Kelly Lewis and their children Norrie and Zev. He is also survived by his sisters, Janice Gosselin and her husband Robert of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Judy Cayea of Riverview, N.Y., and his brother Ronald DuBrey and his wife, Karen, of Dannemora, N.Y.
He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Irene DuBrey of Chazy Lake, N.Y.
Calling hours will be Saturday, February 9th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at R.J. Ross Funeral Home, 135 South Street, Wrentham, Mass. A service will follow immediately after at the funeral home. Lenny will be buried at the Wrentham Center Cemetery after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, 49 Plain St., Suite 500, North Attleboro, MA 02760 or www.joeandruzzifoundation.org. Online guestbook may be found at rjrossfuneralhomeinc.com.